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kellymacbrown's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
While there were aspects of this book that I absolutely adored, overall this book was just okay.
When I got this from the bookstore it was shelved in fantasy and the blurb on the back did not prepare me for the actual contents (which are more horror leaning).
I’m okay with some dark elements and some horror. However, I really disliked the parts that alluded to sexual relations between adults and children. That’s a hard nope for me.
This book addresses how grief/trauma transforms a child into an adult too quickly, stealing something from them in the process.
The ending was beautiful.
When I got this from the bookstore it was shelved in fantasy and the blurb on the back did not prepare me for the actual contents (which are more horror leaning).
I’m okay with some dark elements and some horror. However, I really disliked the parts that alluded to sexual relations between adults and children. That’s a hard nope for me.
This book addresses how grief/trauma transforms a child into an adult too quickly, stealing something from them in the process.
The ending was beautiful.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Child death, and Blood
Moderate: Pedophilia and Death of parent
sam_uel_c's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Gore, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, and War
Moderate: Child abuse, Terminal illness, and Death of parent
Minor: Homophobia and Pedophilia
aliyas_encanto's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Nothing like what I expected from the book's description, but still pleasantly surprised by how engrossed I became in this story. Was near tears by the end, a beautiful celebration of growing up and learning to live a life of wonder despite hardships that come before you.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, Death of parent, and War
Minor: Homophobia, Pedophilia, and Suicidal thoughts
rkazoo's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I’m incapable of reading this and not crying. So many beautiful themes and messages delivered by incredible characters. Ah!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Death, Gore, Mental illness, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Cancer, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Fire/Fire injury, and War
Minor: Misogyny, Excrement, Cannibalism, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
cecicastro's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.5
If you are considering reading this book, don’t. The only redeeming things about it are the first and last chapter (hence my added .5). Although it has some good lines here and there, the writing style is mostly incoherent and random, the story telling is clunky at best. Plot-wise its one of the worst books I’ve ever read.
There were so many plot holes left unanswered. The side characters were flat and used only to portray stupid stereotypes. Apart from David’s mom, every woman in the story is either a horrible person or weak. The men all read the same, giving advice that was so straightforward it was boring and took away from interesting story lines being explored (like David’s OCD). There also seemed to be no point to the story being set during WW2 other than to justify the sexism, fat shaming, and rampant homophobia.
Also important to note: this book is NOT for children. There’s so much gore and violence in it, I really don’t get how it’s supposed to be meant for younger audiences.
There were so many plot holes left unanswered. The side characters were flat and used only to portray stupid stereotypes. Apart from David’s mom, every woman in the story is either a horrible person or weak. The men all read the same, giving advice that was so straightforward it was boring and took away from interesting story lines being explored (like David’s OCD). There also seemed to be no point to the story being set during WW2 other than to justify the sexism, fat shaming, and rampant homophobia.
Also important to note: this book is NOT for children. There’s so much gore and violence in it, I really don’t get how it’s supposed to be meant for younger audiences.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Mental illness, Sexism, Violence, and Death of parent
Moderate: Death, Homophobia, and Pedophilia
zsabella's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
this is a deceptively simple coming of age story of a young boy transported into a dark, fantasy world. the story carries the same energy and atmospheric quality of the movie pan’s labyrinth (2006) by guillermo del toro but with a less fascistic, war-torn angle. at first I was pretty enchanted by the fairytale-like writing until the crooked man was introduced and I could literally feel my skin trying to crawl off my body. I liked the adult retellings of classic fairytales and fables, along with reading a few others that I had never come across before. I also really enjoyed the woodsman and roland characters who served david as interesting companions! such a solid read for any fantasy fan that needs a stand-alone novel and not an entire series to win them over.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Body horror, Violence, and Grief
Minor: Death, Pedophilia, and War
hollyn_middle's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death and Child death
Minor: Homophobia and Pedophilia
tigerhae's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
It had a slow start and was rather predictable at times, but flew much quicker once the real adventure started. I really enjoyed the way that the different classic fairytales were woven into his journey. However, there were a few things that I found immediate problems with while reading. My main issue was the portrayal of Roland’s sexuality. I do get how David’s initial about it being “unnatural” may fit into the WWII time period, but its use in the story still felt… off. Especially how Roland’s love for his “friend” is quickly used to insinuating that him being gay must that he must also harbor inappropriate feelings for David, a literal CHILD! It all felt very unnecessary and made me pity Roland’s character in a way that I don’t feel was the author’s intention. Another issue I found was David’s OCD just magically disappearing after one nice chat with the Woodsman. From the very beginning I thought that was such an interesting addition to his character, only for it to be quickly written away/cured once he entered Elsewhere! I just feel like it could have been included more throughout his journey. I also found myself agreeing with other reviews about the randomness of the WWII setting or David’s fluctuating maturity level and how he oftentimes seemed unrealistic as a young boy, but I didn’t think about those things while I was actually reading, so much as after I finished and looked back.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, and War
Moderate: Animal death, Child death, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Homophobia, Pedophilia, and Vomit
aiiilnv's review against another edition
1.0
it was just actually so bad I feel like the surroundings were barely spoken about and the characters are practically all men. Plus two male characters literally felt the exact same and when THE WOODSMAN CAME BACK AT THE END????? PLEASE IT WAS SO DUMB WHY IS HE ALIVE AGAIN IT FELT SO STUPID, LET THE MAN DIE IT WOULD HAVE FELT MORE IMPORTANT I mean I guess there were women in this book but (TW: sa) one's dead and the other he (the lead) hates, another's basically dead and one is genuinely just a sexual assaulter?? like?? HES A CHILD WHY AM I READING ABOUT HIM BEING CHAINED TO A TABLE NO THANKYOU NEVER THANKYOU THAT SUCKED AND I DON'T CARE I DIDN'T LIKE IT PLEASE DO NOT READ THIS BOOK EVER I CAN NOT DETER YOU ENOUGH FROM THIS BOOK JUST ACTUALLY PLEASE DO NOT READ THIS BOOK IT IS SO BAD LMAO.
PEOPLE SAW ME READING IT ON THE BUS AND I HAD TO TELL THEM THAT NO, NO, THEY DON'T WANT TO READ THIS BOOK. NO MATTER HOW PRETTY THAT COVER ART IS ITS A LIE DON'T DO IT.
This has been very ranty and badly written but it's just actually so bad.
I think there were important things to be found within its pages but for all the badness of the rest of it I just actually would rather burn it.
I literally never hate books this much this just annoyed to no end.
Spare yourself a bad book.
There are literally so many better books.
there's also anti-lgbtq talk which he realises is wrong to some extent but it still was not at all fun to read
do what you will ig
PEOPLE SAW ME READING IT ON THE BUS AND I HAD TO TELL THEM THAT NO, NO, THEY DON'T WANT TO READ THIS BOOK. NO MATTER HOW PRETTY THAT COVER ART IS ITS A LIE DON'T DO IT.
This has been very ranty and badly written but it's just actually so bad.
I think there were important things to be found within its pages but for all the badness of the rest of it I just actually would rather burn it.
I literally never hate books this much this just annoyed to no end.
Spare yourself a bad book.
There are literally so many better books.
do what you will ig
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Violence, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Fatphobia
in terms of content warnings, there's a lot to look out for (I've blocked out this book in my head so I can't remember it all) while some of it is alluded to in other characters etc and it definitely depends on where you stand in terms of how comfortable you are reading it but literally just no. so bad. sorry to the author but am i? not really.sleeson's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was a good book! It has the most odd and enchanting take on the old school fairy tales we grew up with. However, this book is not for children. I am shocked that the age range recommends ages 10-14 yrs. Though there was no swearing, there is a lot of adult content that is referenced throughout. Some odd parts in the book that made me wonder what the author was trying to accomplish by having the adult content in a book that is intended for a young audience. Good for adults. Kids absolutely not. Maybe late teens.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Torture, and Xenophobia